Apparatus and method for transmitting call holding message in mobile communication terminal

ABSTRACT

A call holding voice message transmitting apparatus and method in a mobile communication terminal are disclosed that transmit voice data, preferably stored in the terminal, to a caller in a situation in which the user of the terminal cannot receive an incoming call from the caller. The apparatus can include a key input unit to input a command to the terminal, a controller that generates a control signal adapted to execute the command, a microphone that converts a voice into an analog voice signal and a voice encoder that converts the analog voice signal into a digital voice signal. A memory can retrievably store the digital voice signal outputted from the voice encoder and a voice decoder converts the digital voice signal into an outgoing analog voice signal. A selection device outputs a selected one of the analog voice signal from the microphone and the outgoing analog voice signal from the voice decoder in response to the control signal from the control unit. Finally, a backward speech channel unit can convert the analog voice signal outputted from the selection device into a signal meeting a transmission system used in association with the terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and moreparticularly to an apparatus and method for transmitting a call holdingvoice message in a mobile communication terminal.

2. Background of the Related Art

Generally, mobile communication terminals have basic functions formaking and receiving calls. When a user makes a call using a keypad inaccordance with a variety of dialing methods to dial the telephonenumber of a counterpart (i.e., called party), who is to receive thecall, the call is transmitted to the counterpart. When the called partyresponds to the call from the calling party, he can enter into atelephone conversation with the caller. The dialing methods may includea method in which the entire combination of digits of a desiredtelephone number is inputted, a method in which an entry number assignedas an abbreviated dial number for a desired telephone number isinputted, a method in which the last four digits of a desired telephonenumber are inputted, or a method in which a voice recognizable as adesired telephone number is inputted.

When the calling party or the called party desires to transmit a messageto the counterpart during the course of a telephone conversation, heshould transmit the message in the form of a voice by directly vibratingthe vocal cords. However, it may be often difficult to transmit amessage in the form of a voice due to personal reasons or surroundingcircumstances. For example, it is difficult for the user of a mobilecommunication terminal to accurately transmit an intended message in theform of a voice to the counterpart when the user is located in a publicarea, such as a concert hall or a theater, which require observance ofthe proprieties of telephone communications, when the user is inconference or at a table, or the user is under severe noisycircumstances.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a related art procedure forresponding to an incoming call in a mobile communication terminal. Therelated art call responding procedure carried out in the mobilecommunication terminal will now be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the procedure starts and continues to step S101.When the user of the terminal receives an incoming call under thecondition in which he is located in a public area such as a library orin conference, calling bells or vibrations are generated from theterminal in response to the incoming call in step S101. If it isdetermined in step S102 that a response to the incoming call can bemade, the user opens the flip cover of the terminal or depresses a callreception button after moving to an area where he can respond to theincoming call. Then, the user responds to the incoming call and entersinto a telephone conversation with the caller in step S103.

Under a situation in which the user cannot respond to the incoming callin step S102, a reception-impossible message is transmitted to thecaller after a predetermined period of waiting time in step S104. Forexample, the reception-impossible message may be “[t]he user cannotrespond to the incoming call now.” Alternatively, thereception-impossible message may be “[d]o you want to leave a message ina voice box?”. In response to the reception-impossible message, thecaller may immediately stop the call or stop the call after leaving adesired voice message in the voice box provided by a server.

However, as described above, the related art call responding procedurehas various disadvantages. For example, the related art call respondingprocedure has a disadvantage in that while the user is in the process ofmoving to an area where he can respond to the incoming call, the callermay have a consideration that it is impossible for the user to receivethe call so that the caller hang up to stop the call. In such a case,the user cannot engage in a telephone conversation with the caller. Thismay cause a serious disadvantage when the telephone conversation isassociated with an important affair. Further, the caller leaves a voicemessage in the voice box, there is an inconvenience in that the usershould connect to the server of mobile communication service in order tohear the message.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein whereappropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternativedetails, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedhereinafter.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communicationterminal and method of using same that solves one or more problemscaused by disadvantages in the related art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a voice datastoring apparatus and method in a mobile communication terminal thattransmit a call holding message to a caller in response to an incomingcall from the caller.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a voice datastoring apparatus and method in a mobile communication terminal thattransmit a prestored call holding voice message to a caller in a callholding message mode that informs the caller the user will answershortly or cannot answer because of the user's location/circumstanceprior to voice mail connection being handled in responding to an incoming call from the caller.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a voice datastoring apparatus and method in a mobile communication terminal thatstore voice data of the user in a memory equipped in the terminal totransmit the stored voice data to a caller in a situation in which it isimpossible for the user to enter into a telephone conversation with thecaller in response to an incoming call from the caller.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a call holdingvoice message transmitting apparatus and method in a mobilecommunication terminal that can transmit voice data stored in a memoryof the terminal to a caller in accordance with a desired key input bythe user in a situation where the user cannot enter into a telephoneconversation with the caller in response to an incoming call from thecaller, which allows the user to accurately transmit an intended messageto the caller.

In order to achieve the above objects in a whole or in part, the presentinvention provides an apparatus for transmitting a call holding voicemessage in a mobile communication terminal that includes an input unitthat inputs a command to the terminal; a control unit that generates acontrol signal adapted to execute the command from the input unit; afirst converter that converts a voice inputted to the terminal, into acorresponding first analog voice signal; a second converter thatconverts the first analog voice signal outputted from the firstconverter into a first digital voice signal; a memory allocated with aplurality of memory addresses, wherein the memory allocates a selectedone of the memory addresses for the first digital voice signal; amultiplexer that receives the first and the second digital voice signalsand outputs a selected one of the first and second digital voice signalsin response to the control signal received from the control unit; and anoutput converter that converts the selected digital voice signal fromthe multiplexer into a signal meeting a transmission system used inassociation with the terminal.

To further achieve the above objects in a whole or in part, the presentinvention provides a method for transmitting a call holding voicemessage in a mobile communication terminal that includes receiving voicedata corresponding to a call holding voice message to be transmitted toa caller in response to an incoming call from the caller; storing thereceived voice data in a retrievable format in the terminal; receiving aselection signal selecting the received voice data in response to theincoming call from the caller in a conversation mode of the terminal;and retrieving the voice data in response to the selection signal,converting the retrieved voice data into data meeting a transmissionsystem used in association with the terminal.

To further achieve the above objects in a whole or in part, the presentinvention provides a method for transmitting a call holding message in amobile communication terminal that includes storing voice datacorresponding to a call holding message in the terminal; setting anincoming call holding mode for the terminal; and transmitting the callholding voice message stored in the terminal to a caller in the incomingcall holding mode in response to an incoming call.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a related art procedure forresponding to an incoming call in a mobile communication terminal;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of anapparatus for transmitting a call holding voice message in a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another preferred embodiment ofan apparatus for transmitting a call holding voice message in a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of voice datastoring procedure in which voice data is stored in a mobilecommunication terminal to achieve a transmission of a corresponding callholding voice message;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an exemplary variety of voicedata stored in a memory unit of the terminal shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of a callholding voice message transmitting method in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating another preferred embodiment of acall holding voice message transmitting method in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a first preferred embodiment ofan apparatus for transmitting a call holding voice message in a mobilecommunication terminal according to the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2, the call holding voice message transmitting apparatus accordingto the first embodiment includes a microphone 201, a voice encoder 202,a memory unit 203, a voice decoder 204, a multiplexer 205, a backwardspeech channel unit 208, a key input unit 206, and a control unit 207.

Operations of the first preferred embodiment of the apparatus will nowbe described. To allow a transmission of a call holding voice message inthe first preferred embodiment of the call holding voice messagetransmitting apparatus, it is necessary to previously store the callholding voice message in the mobile communication terminal to which thecall holding voice message transmitting apparatus is applied.

To this end, the microphone 201 serves to convert a voice received fromthe user into a corresponding analog voice signal which is, in turn,applied to the voice encoder 202. In the voice encoder 202, the analogvoice signal is encoded in a compressed digital voice signal so that itis allowed to be stored in the memory unit 203.

The memory unit 203 receives the digital voice signal from the voiceencoder 202, and then stores it in a memory location corresponding to amemory address allocated in accordance with a control signal generatedfrom the control unit 207 preferably in response to a key input from thekey input unit 206. However, the present invention is not intended to beso limited. Typically, the key input unit 206 generates a modedesignation signal and a variety of key codes. Repeating theseprocedures can be performed to store additional compressed digital voicesignals in the mobile communication terminal.

Thus, the memory unit 203 is stored with a variety of digital voicesignals in its memory locations respectively corresponding to differentmemory addresses. A desired one of the stored memory addresses isselected under the control of the control unit 207 in accordance with akey input generated by a key manipulation of the user. Accordingly, thedigital voice signal corresponding to the selected memory address isinputted to the voice decoder 204 which, in turn, decodes the digitalvoice signal into a corresponding analog voice signal.

The multiplexer 205 is adapted to output an analog voice signal inputtedthrough the microphone 201 or an analog voice signal received from thevoice decoder 204 under the control of the control unit 207. The analogvoice signal outputted from the multiplexer 205 is preferably convertedinto a transmission signal meeting a code division multiple access(CDMA) system by the backward speech channel unit 208.

The converted signal from the backward speech channel unit 208 is thentransmitted to a base station (not shown). To transmit analog voicesignals in the form of digital packet data to the base station, thebackward speech channel unit 208 preferably includes a voice encoderserving to produce compressed digital voice data converted from thoseanalog voice signals.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a second preferred embodiment ofan apparatus for transmitting a call holding voice message in a mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 3, the second preferred embodiment of the call holdingvoice message transmitting apparatus includes a microphone 301, a voiceencoder 302, a memory unit 303, a multiplexer 304, a backward speechchannel unit 307, a key input unit 305, and a control unit 306.

Operations of the second preferred embodiment of the apparatus will nowbe described. In order to allow a transmission of a call holding voicemessage in the call holding voice message transmitting apparatusaccording to the second preferred embodiment, it is necessary topreviously store the call holding voice message in the mobilecommunication terminal, to which the call holding voice messagetransmitting apparatus is applied. This is similar to the apparatus ofthe first preferred embodiment.

To this end, the microphone 301 serves to convert a voice received fromthe user into a corresponding analog voice signal which is, in turn,applied to the voice encoder 302. In the voice encoder 302, the analogvoice signal is encoded in a compressed digital voice signal for storingin the memory unit 303 or directly applying to the multiplexer 305.

The memory unit 303 receives the digital voice signal from the voiceencoder 302, and then stores it in a memory location corresponding to amemory address preferably allocated in accordance with a control signalgenerated from the control unit 306 in response to a key input from thekey input unit 305. Typically, the key input unit 305 generates a modedesignation signal and a variety of key codes.

In this manner, the memory unit 303 is preferably repeatedly stored witha variety of digital voice signals in its memory locations respectivelycorresponding to different memory addresses. A desired one of the storedmemory addresses is selected under the control of the control unit 306in accordance with a key input generated by a key manipulation of theuser. The digital voice signal corresponding to the selected memoryaddress is then inputted to the multiplexer 304.

The multiplexer 304 outputs a digital voice signal received via themicrophone 301 and voice encoder 302 or a digital voice signal read outfrom the memory unit 303 under the control of the control unit 306. Thedigital voice signal outputted from the multiplexer 304 is convertedinto a transmission signal meeting a CDMA system by the backward speechchannel unit 307. The converted signal from the backward speech channelunit 307 is then transmitted to a base station (not shown).

In the apparatus according to the second preferred embodiment, it isunnecessary to use any voice decoder as used in the first preferredembodiment because the backward speech channel unit 307 receivescompressed digital signals from the multiplexer 304. In order totransmit analog voice signals in the form of digital packet data to thebase station, the backward speech channel unit 208 would preferablyinclude a voice encoder serving to produce compressed digital voice dataconverted from those analog voice signals.

A method for transmitting a call holding voice message in the mobilecommunication terminal configured in accordance with the first or thesecond preferred embodiment of an apparatus for transmitting a callholding voice message of the present invention will now be described.The call holding voice message transmitting method involves a voice datastoring procedure, a voice data read out procedure and a transmittingprocedure. The voice data storing procedure stores voice data of theuser of the terminal in the memory unit of the terminal in order totransmit an intended message to a caller in a situation in which it isimpossible for the user to enter into a telephone conversation with thecaller in response to an incoming call from the caller. The voice datatransmitting procedure reads out the stored voice data from the memory,and the transmitting procedure transmits the read-out voice data to thecaller.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of a voicedata storing procedure in which voice data is stored in a memorylocation of a storage device included in the terminal in order toachieve a transmission of a corresponding call holding voice message. Asshown in FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment of the voice data storingprocedure can be performed in the mobile communication terminal havingthe first or second preferred embodiment of the apparatus and will bedescribed first in conjunction with FIG. 2. Accordingly, after thisprocedure begins, the control unit 207 first determines whether or notthe operation mode of the terminal corresponds to a voice data storingmode for storing voice data in the memory unit 203 at step S401.

Where the determination in step S401 is negative because the terminal isin an operation mode other than the voice data storing mode, the controlunit 207 conducts a control for executing a function corresponding tothat operation mode in step S402. On the other hand, when it isdetermined at step S401 that the operation mode of the terminalcorresponds to the voice data storing mode, the control unit 207 allowsthe user to input voice data, which will be stored, to the terminal instep S403.

Thereafter, the control unit 207 receives a memory address allocated tostore the inputted voice data from the key input unit 206 in step S404,and then stores the voice data in a memory location of the memory unit203 corresponding to the memory address in step S405. However, thepresent invention is not intended to be so limited. For example,although the inputting of the memory address is executed following theinputting of the voice data in the above procedure, it may be executedbefore the inputting of the voice data. From step S405, the procedureends.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary variety of voice data stored, forexample, in the memory unit 203 in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the voice data storing procedure as shown in FIG. 4 to beused as a call holding message. Thus, the user can input a voicemessage, “Hello, this is Kildong Hong,” to the terminal via themicrophone 201 in the voice data storing mode, and then can input anumeral “1” as a memory address to be allocated for the inputted voicemessage via the key input unit 206. In this case, the voice message(e.g., Hello, this is Kildong Hong) is rendered to be stored and thenstored in a memory location of the memory unit 203 corresponding to thememory address number 1 as shown in FIG. 5.

In addition to the message, “Hello, this is Kildong Hong,” other desiredvoice messages may be respectively stored in additional memory locationsof the memory unit 203 while being allocated corresponding differentmemory addresses. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, such voice messagesmay include: (a) “I can't receive your call now. Please call me nexttime.”; (b) “I will receive your call in a moment, but I am unable tohave more than a very limited conversation with you owing to unavoidablecircumstances.”; (c) “Please wait a moment. I will receive your callafter moving to another area.”; (d) “I can't receive your call now.Please leave a message.”; (e) “Please wait a moment. Don't hang-up.”;and (f) “Sorry, please wait a moment and don't hang-up, if your call isimportant.”. However, the present invention is not intended to be solimited.

After completion of the storing procedure for desired voice data such asthose described above, a selected one of those stored voice data ispreferably transmitted as a call holding voice message in a transmitstored voiced data mode. Thus, the selected call holding voice messageis transmitted from the user's terminal to a caller in response to anincoming call from the caller in a situation in which it is impossiblefor the user to enter into a telephone conversation with the caller.

A first preferred embodiment of a call holding voice messagetransmitting method according to the present invention will now bedescribed. The first preferred embodiment of the call holding voicemessages transmitting method can be used with the preferred embodimentsof the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the firstpreferred embodiment of the call holding voice message transmittingmethod will be described in conjunction with FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, after a process starts the control unit 207 or thelike can determine whether or not a command for transmitting a selectedone of the voice data stored in the memory unit 203 is generated in aconversation mode (e.g., transmit stored voice data mode) in step S601.For example, whether or not a command for transmitting a selected one ofthe stored voice data is generated in the conversation mode can bedetermined by judging whether or not a memory address corresponding toone of the stored voice data is inputted by a terminal user in theconversation mode.

When it is determined at step S601 that there is no command fortransmitting the voice data stored in the memory unit 203, in step S602the control unit 207 controls the multiplexer 205 or the like totransmit an analog voice signal from the microphone 201 to the backwardspeech channel unit 208. Under the control of the control unit 207, thebackward speech channel unit 208 can convert the received analog voicesignal into a transmission signal preferably meeting the CDMA system,and then transmits the transmission signal to a base station (not shown)in step S602 and the process ends.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S601 that there is acommand for transmitting the voice data stored in the memory unit 203,the control unit 207 controls the memory unit 203 and multiplexer 205 sothat voice data corresponding to the input memory address is inputted tothe backward speech channel unit 208 in step S603. Further, the voicedata inputted to the backward speech channel unit 208 can be convertedinto a transmission signal preferably meeting the CDMA system, and thentransmitted to a base station (not shown) in step S603 and the processends.

Procedures for applying the voice data outputted from the memory unit203 to the multiplexer 205 will now be described in additional detail.When a memory address corresponding to one of the memory locations ofthe memory unit 203 stored with respective voice data is inputted to theterminal in the conversation mode, the control unit 207 controls thememory unit 203 to output the voice data stored in the input memoryaddress in the form of a digital voice signal to the voice decoder 204.The voice decoder 204 then converts the received digital voice signalinto a corresponding to an analog voice signal, and outputs the analogvoice signal to the multiplexer 205.

Generation of a key input adapted to read out voice data stored in thememory unit 203 may be achieved using a menu function typically includedin mobile communication terminals. For example, a method may be used inwhich all messages stored in the memory unit are displayed on the screenof the terminal along with corresponding memory address numbers so thatthe user can select a desired one of those messages using a select key.

Alternatively, a key depression holding method may be used to send outvoice data stored in the terminal. The key depression holding method isa method in which a combination of keys corresponding to a desiredmemory address is prolongedly depressed in the conversation mode. Forsuch a key depression holding method, there may be a method in which thememory unit is accessible in response to a rapid successive keydepression, and a method in which the memory unit is accessible inresponse to a momentarily prolonged key depression greater than aprescribed length of time. For a memory address having two digits, thecorresponding voice message can be read out by a key depression in whichthe key corresponding to the first digit of the memory address israpidly depressed while the key corresponding to the second digit of thememory address is depressed in a prolonged fashion.

Although a variety of key inputting methods have been described, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that additional methods may beimplemented within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the presentinvention is not intended to be so limited to the described keyinputting methods.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a second preferred embodiment of amethod for transmitting a call holding voice message in the mobilecommunication terminal in accordance with the present invention. Thesecond preferred embodiment of the method to transmit a call holdingvoice message can be performed, for example, by the first and secondpreferred embodiments of an apparatus as respectively shown in FIGS. 2and 3.

As shown in FIG. 7, after a process starts, control continues to stepS701 where calling bells or vibrations are generated from the terminalin response to the incoming call. When the user of the terminal isrequired to receive an incoming call from a caller under the conditionin which he cannot respond normally to the incoming call, he depresses acall holding button to set the terminal into an incoming call holdingmode. However, the second preferred embodiment is not intended to be solimited. For example, the terminal could have been set in the incomingcall holding mode when the user entered the conditions preventing normalresponse, or a subsequent time prior to receipt of the call.

If the terminal is determined to be in the incoming call holding mode instep S702, control continues to step S703 where the terminal transmits acall holding voice message, stored therein, to the caller via itsmessage transmission system. The call holding voice message may be oneof the exemplary messages illustrated in FIG. 5.

In a state in which the user does not set the terminal into the incomingcall holding mode, that is, he does not depress the call holding button,it is determined that the terminal is not in the call holding mode instep S702 and control jumps to step S704. In step S704, it is determinedwhether or not the user responds to the incoming call within apredetermined period of time.

This determination can be achieved preferably by determining whether theuser depresses the conversation button of the terminal within thepredetermined period of time. If it is determined in step S704 that theuser depresses the conversation button within the predetermined periodof time, control continues to step S705 where the incoming call is thennormally received to allow the user to enter into a normal telephoneconversation with the caller.

However, if it is determined that there is no response from the user tothe incoming call within the predetermined period of time in step S704,that is, if the user does not depress the conversation button in theincoming call holding mode within the predetermined period of time,control jumps to step S706. In step S706, a desired acknowledgmentmessage is automatically transmitted to the caller. For example, theacknowledgment message may be “Sorry, I can't receive your call now.Please leave a message.”, “Sorry to have you kept waiting. I can'treceive your call now. Please leave a message.”, and etc. For such anacknowledgment message, messages previously stored in the terminal bythe manufacturer during the manufacture of that terminal or by the userafter the purchase of the terminal may be used.

In accordance with the transmission of such an acknowledgment message instep S706, the caller is requested for a transmission of a voicemessage. The voice message from the caller is then received at theterminal of the user and recorded in the memory unit in step S707.

Thus, in the second preferred embodiment of the method for transmittinga call holding message, when there is no response from the user to theincoming call within the predetermined period of time even though theincoming call holding mode is not set, steps S706 and S707 arepreferably executed. That is, the terminal transmits the acknowledgmentmessage to the caller at step S706. Subsequently, a voice messagetransmitted from the caller in response to the acknowledgment message ispreferably recorded in the memory unit at step S707. From steps S705 andS707, the process ends.

Although a description has been made in which most voice data adapted tobe used as a call holding voice message are voice messages directlystored in the memory unit of the terminal by the user, the presentinvention is not intended to be so limited. For example, call holdingvoice messages may also be a variety of voice messages previously storedby the manufacturer in the manufacture of that terminal. In this case,the user can use the manufacturer stored voice messages in accordancewith the preferred embodiments.

As described above, preferred embodiments according to the presentinvention provides a call holding voice message transmitting apparatusand method in a mobile communication terminal having various advantages.The preferred embodiments of a call holding voice message transmittingapparatus and method can transmit a variety of voice data, stored in amemory equipped in the terminal, to a caller in a situation in which itis impossible for the user to enter into a telephone conversation withthe caller in response to an incoming call from the caller. Thus, thepreferred embodiments allow the user to effectively cope with theincoming call. Accordingly, a percentage of completed calls increasesand a system efficiency increases. Further, the user can respond to theincoming call without incurring the displeasure of those around him.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In theclaims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for transmitting a call holdingvoice message in a mobile communication terminal, comprising: an inputunit that inputs a command to the terminal; a control unit thatgenerates a control signal adapted to execute the command from the inputunit; a first converter that converts a voice inputted to the terminal-,into a corresponding first analog voice signal; a second converter thatconverts the first analog voice signal outputted from the firstconverter into a first digital voice signal; a memory allocated with aplurality of memory addresses, wherein the memory allocates a selectedone of the memory addresses for the first digital voice signal; a thirdconverter that converts a second digital voice signal output by thememory into a second analog voice signal; a multiplexer that receivesthe first and the second analog voice signals and outputs a selected oneof the first and second analog voice signals in response to the controlsignal received from the control unit; and an output converter thatconverts the selected analog voice signal from the multiplexer into asignal meeting a transmission system used in association with theterminal.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output converter hasa fourth converter that converts the selected analog voice signal outputby the multiplexer into the selected digital voice signal.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the third converter is a voice decoderadapted to decode the digital voice signal stored in the memory into thecorresponding second analog voice signal.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the fourth converter converts the selected analog voice signalfrom the multiplexer into the signal that satisfies a code divisionmultiple access transmission system.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the fourth converter comprises a voice encoder that converts theselected analog voice signal into the signal being a third digital voicesignal.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input of the command bythe input unit uses a key depression holding method.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the input of the command by the input unit displaysvoice data corresponding to the digital voice signal stored in thememory on a screen of the terminal, and allows a user of the terminal toselect the displayed voice data.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe first digital signal and the second digital signal ate the samesignal.